Felon found with guns, drugs

Sunday

Apr 16, 2017 at 5:20 PM

By Chris Baldwin Staff writer

A Gainesville man with multiple prior felony convictions was arrested early Saturday morning after deputies said he was found in possession of illegal drugs while driving a stolen vehicle that contained a loaded rifle and ammunition, according to an ASO report.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, deputies stopped a 2006 Lexus SUV, which was believed to be stolen Saturday, in the 800 block of Southeast 20th Street.

Upon approaching the vehicle, deputies noticed multiple firearms on the floor of the vehicle, and immediately detained the driver, Harry Lee Debose, 37, of 3501 NE 15th St.

Debose told deputies the guns were BB guns he had taken earlier from his children, but deputies said they also found a loaded .22-caliber rifle on the floorboard of the back seat along with 11 rounds of ammunition.

A check of the vehicle’s identification number confirmed the car was stolen, though the license plate had been switched, the report said.

Deputies said they also found ½ a gram of marijuana after searching Debose.

Debose, who has nine prior felony convictions, claimed a friend loaned him the vehicle and he was not aware it was stolen.

Debose was taken to the Alachua County jail where deputies also found 1½ grams of cocaine hidden on Debose.

Debose, who, as of Sunday evening, remained in jail with bail set at $150,000, was charged with cocaine possession, marijuana possession, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, habitually driving with a suspended license and smuggling contraband into a detention facility.